Jungle Roots

jroots — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 16:28:23 +0000

Orthodontic Decay: Completely Unnecessary!

jroots — Thu, 12 May 2011 21:52:54 +0000

Many kids find it difficult to routinely remove plaque deposits from their teeth. When Orthodontic appliances are needed to perform necessary tooth movements and corrections, the degree of difficulty of proper hygiene is increased significantly. I would rather a young adult have less than perfectly straight teeth, that are healthy instead of perfectly straight teeth that are scarred or decayed. The pictures in this post represent what can happen with poor oral hygiene during Orthodontic care. Notice the unaffected areas of the tooth are coincidentally shaped like the bracket. The chalky areas represent where the plaque was left in contact with the enamel to break it down! Feel free to print out and tape these pictures to your young adult’s mirror in the bathroom as a reminder of what they should not look like after they’re done with braces!

Gray Tooth: Aren’t they supposed to be white?

jroots — Wed, 11 May 2011 16:57:00 +0000

Minor traumatic injuries to kid’s baby front teeth are very common. Whether it’s a quick, accidental head butt from your buddy when going down a slide at the park or a full-on collision with your sister during a great game of hide and go seek, those little front teeth can take a beating! Fortunately, primary teeth are very resilient! They recover from injuries like these very well. A common finding after such an injury is the “gray” or “bruised” tooth. Sometimes it is the only evidence that an injury has occurred. If you see a bruised tooth in your child’s mouth, it’s important to properly evaluate what is going on with an x-ray. This evaluation will determine if the roots is fractured or if the nerve tissue has died. Because of the location they are easily recognized by the parent. Give us a call if you see a bruised tooth.

Ectopic eruption: We call it “Sharks Teeth”

jroots — Wed, 11 May 2011 16:07:47 +0000

There isn’t a week that goes by in our office that we don’t see at least a couple examples of Ectopic Eruption. Frequently seen in the lower front area of a 1st grader, it’s almost like these new permanent incisors forgot to turn on their GPS. Toward the tongue or “lingually” is the entry point for the newest permanent teeth to arrive on the scene. Most but not all of the root of the baby incisor is dissolved away. With enough of the baby tooth root remaining, some kids simply can’t get their teeth to come out. Our office encourages an “at home” approach first but if unsuccessful, the stubborn baby teeth can easily be asked to “leave the premises.” : ) Call our office if you need help with Sharks Teeth!

Dental Abscess: Where did THAT come from?

jroots — Wed, 11 May 2011 15:03:17 +0000

You’re helping your child brush their teeth one evening and you notice a very strange pimple on their gum. It doesn’t hurt and if you hadn’t lifted their lip up higher than usual, you might have missed it. There’s a strong likelihood that your child has a dental abscess. These soft, pus-filled masses are the result of the body fighting a local bacterial infection. Typically there are two causes: A cavity has grown in size large enough to introduce bacteria into the pulp chamber of the tooth or through trauma to that area, the nerve inside the tooth has died. This environment is perfect for the growth of bacteria. If you see something like this in your child’s mouth, please call to have it evaluated!

X-rays: Can’t properly Diagnose without them!

jroots — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 22:18:11 +0000

Dental X-Rays:

X-rays are all around us. Cosmic Rays are going through your body as you read this. Everyone should be concerned regarding their exposure to radiation. Dental x-rays are an essential tool used in the diagnosis of dental decay and orthodontic dilemmas. We strive to use only those x-rays that are important for your child’s complete diagnostic picture. We do not engage in indiscriminate x-ray exposure.

Dental Home: Every Tooth Needs a Home

jroots — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 21:51:57 +0000

A Dental Home:

Similar to the physician’s model of the Pediatrician providing a central hub for medical care (Home), the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry has adopted this concept so to make available any level of care and information counseling to our pediatric patients and their parents. The establishment of your child’s dental home starts with an exam and consultation by age one. Please call our office to discuss setting up your child’s dental home at Jungle Roots Children’s Dentistry!

Mouth Guards: They’re not just for Hockey!

jroots — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 21:49:41 +0000

Mouth Guards:

Dental injuries in sports is an unfortunate reality. Contrary to public opinion, hockey is not the most common sport to injure permanent teeth. In our office, Baseball tops the list! A well fitted mouth guard will provide superior protection mainly due to its fit. If it fits well, the athlete will wear it while playing. Ask us about fabricating a mouth guard for your athlete.

Xylitol: This stuff is Awesome!

jroots — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 14:44:43 +0000

Xylitol:

A naturally occurring sugar alcohol, that is not alcoholic but reduces oral bacteria’s ability to form acid, is harvested from many commonly eaten vegetables. Xylitol itself cannot be used by the bacteria in your mouth to form acid. It tastes great and is easily found in many of the Trident gums available anywhere. We recommend kids chew sugar free gum as a substitute for sweets during the day to benefit from the following: to reduce their overall sugar consumption, neutralized mouth acids (gum is basic), stimulate the flow of their own saliva, and it tastes good!

Fluoride: A tooth’s best friend

jroots — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 14:44:04 +0000

Fluoride:

As a naturally occurring element in our environment, fluoride is helpful in producing a strong form of enamel that is more resistant to acid than the calcium based enamel. Too much of any good thing is no longer a good thing. Fluoride is no exception. Please ask us regarding the specific fluoride recommendations for your child.